Here are the first of 50 tips to help increase your ecommerce conversion rate. If you apply these tips, your conversion rate WILL increase. Everyone of the conversion tips have been applied and proven successful in my online stores.

Tip Number 1: Include Company Established Date in Header
I was talking with a fellow ecommerce merchant while he lamented his conversion rate. The conversation turned into a brainstorming session. I knew he was a very early adopter of an ecommerce sales channel and opened a Yahoo Store shortly after Al Gore invented the Internet. Remarkably, he never used his years of doing business online as a marketing tool. He was missing out on a chance to increase buyer confidence (and in turn, his conversion rate) by not having this bit of information prominently listed on his store.
This brings me to Tip Number One….If your store has been around a long time – make note of it! Add a tagline in your header that says something like “Established in 2003” or “Since 1998.” Brick and mortar stores have been using their date established in collateral information for years – and the reason being - it builds confidence. Sure, being in business for 5 years means very little in brick and mortar year but its light years in of ecommerce.

Tip Number 2: Reduce Shipping Charges
Shipping charges are a top contributor to cart abandonment. Offer free shipping when you can. If you can't offer free shipping, consider flat rate shipping. If your just starting out as an ecommerce merchant and don't have discounted rates from UPS or FedEx, join an association the offers members shipping discounts. They are out there and some offer 25% off ground published rates.

Tip Number 3: Add and/or Improve Images for your Top 20 Products
Take your top 20 best selling products and focus some attention to their product images. Add additional images from different angles or put them in context with props. Don't settle for manufacturer provided images.

Tip Number 4: Write a Buyers Guide
Write a buyer guide for your top line of products. Answer all the questions a customer may have pertaining to the line. Compare and contrast the difference between the products.

Tip Number 5: Add an Assurance Center to your Checkout Pages
Add an assurance center to the checkout pages that will help minimize customers fears, uncertainties and doubts about your products, store and service. Good ideas for this would be highlighting your store's SSL cert, return policy, fast shipping, etc.

Tip Number 6: Add a Security Seal to your Header
Move your Security seal to your header to give it top billing. Don't have it below the fold.

Tip Number 7: Add a Toll Free Number to your Header
Make sure you have a toll free number in plain sight in your header. Don't skimp and use a 866 or 877 number. Get a 1-800 prefix.